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MINUTES OF HOUSE EDUCATION
STANDING COMMITTEE

February 3, 2009
Room 445, State Capitol Building

MEMBERS PRESENT:    Rep. Gregory H. Hughes, Chair
        Rep. Kenneth W. Sumsion, Vice Chair
        Rep. Laura Black
        Rep. Rebecca Edwards
        Rep. Craig A. Frank
        Rep. Kory M. Holdaway
        Rep. Don L. Ipson
        Rep. Carol Spackman Moss
        Rep. Merlynn T. Newbold
        Rep. Marie H. Poulson
        Rep. Kraig Powell
        Rep. Mark A. Wheatley
        Rep. Carl Wimmer

MEMBERS ABSENT:    Rep. Brad L. Dee
        Rep. Bradley G. Last        
            
STAFF PRESENT:    John Q. Cannon, Managing Policy Analyst
        Linda Service, Committee Secretary
        Dee S Larsen, Associate General Counsel

Note: List of visitors and copy of handouts are filed with committee minutes.


Rep. Hughes called the meeting to order at 8:17 a.m.

MOTION: Rep. Holdaway moved to accept the minutes of January 30, 2009. The motion passed unanimously with Rep. Ipson being absent for the vote.

H.B. 229, Public School Funding

Rep. Harper reviewed the bill which was introduced in the January 30, 2009 meeting of the House Education Standing Committee. The bill reduces property taxes for schools and increases sales tax and dedicates it to schools.

The following spoke in support of the bill:
Ron Mortensen, Citizens Coalition for Tax Fairness





House Education Standing Committee
February 3, 2009
Page 2

The following spoke against the bill:
Royce Van Tassell, Utah Taxpayers Association
Steven Peterson, Utah School Boards Association and Utah School Superintendents Association
Noel Zabriskie, Ogden City School District
Vic Arnold, Utah Education Association
Jim Olsen, Utah Retail Merchants

The following spoke to the bill:
Larry Shumway, Deputy Superintendent, Utah State Office of Education
Janet Roberts, Business Administrator, Salt Lake City School District
John Hiskey, Sandy City

MOTION: Rep. Wimmer moved to pass the bill out with a favorable recommendation.

SUBSTITUTE MOTION: Rep. Holdaway moved to proceed to the next item on the agenda. The motion passed with Rep. Frank, Rep. Newbold, Rep. Wimmer, Rep. Sumsion and Rep. Hughes voting in opposition.

H.B. 82, Teacher Mortgage Loan Program

Rep. Hemingway introduced the bill which creates a loan program for teachers.

The following spoke in favor of the bill:
Jimmy Barton, Bingham High teacher
Kim Campbell, Utah Education Association

Jody Sundberg, Utah School Boards Association and School Superintendents Association spoke against the bill.

MOTION: Rep. Black moved to pass the bill out with a favorable recommendation.

MOTION: Rep. Wimmer moved to adjourn at 9:53. The motion passed with Rep. Black, Rep. Edwards, Rep. Moss, and Rep. Wheatley voting in opposition.




            __________________________________
            Rep. Gregory H. Hughes, Chair